This article is from the EMU News Archive. The approximate date of publication was in April 2003. Current EMU news is available at www.emu.edu/news
TO EMU HEADLINE NEWS | STUDENT LIFE |
EMU Names Nafziger Student Life VP
Kenneth L. Nafziger of State College, Pa., has been named the new vice president for student life at Eastern Mennonite University. He will begin July 1, 2003.
The appointment to the president’s cabinet-level position was announced by EMU President Joseph L. Lapp.
Dr. Nafziger is currently assistant director of the Center for Counseling and Psychological Services at Penn State University. He will succeed Dr. Patricia S. (Patti) Helton, who has accepted a position as associate provost for campus life at the University of Denver.
Nafziger will head a 40-member division that is responsible for student development programs, intercollegiate athletics, housing, residence programs, campus ministries, orientation, counseling, multicultural and international student services health care and career planning.
"It is a special pleasure to welcome Dr. Nafziger to this role of leadership in the student life division," said Lapp. "He brings impressive credentials in working with students within a higher education setting, has a strong commitment to the Mennonite Church, its faith and practice, and will provide excellent leadership at this time in our history," he added.
Nafziger graduated with honors from EMU in 1979 with a B.A. degree in mathematics and psychology. He earned a master’s and doctoral degrees in counseling psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1992 and 1996, respectively. He is a licensed psychologist in Pennsylvania.
After graduating from EMU, Nafziger taught mathematics and was head track and field and cross-country coach at Broadway (Va.) High School, 1979-83. He then served a three-year term teaching secondary school in Mandera, Kenya, under the auspices of Eastern Mennonite Missions, Salunga, Pa. Between his years of graduate work, he taught at the University of Illinois and at the University of Iowa. He also did a pre-doctoral counseling internship at the University of Iowa.
The new EMU appointee has extensive experience in student services work in academic settings. At Penn State, he relates directly to student athletes, does career counseling, has a liaison relationship with housing and residence life staff and is student affairs representative to the Administrative Council for International Students and Scholars.
Nafziger has given numerous presentations in the fields of counseling and psychology and published articles in professional and scholarly journals. He is fluent in German, Spanish and Swahili.
Nafziger is a member of University Mennonite Church, State College, where he is an elder and has served as college/young adult coordinator and a small group leader.
He is married to Judith Reimer Nafziger, a 1981 EMU graduate. The couple has three children — Rachel, Daniel and Matthew.
Posted: April 18, 2003
